Orioles Acquire Scott Feldman; Arrieta and Strop sent to the Cubs

Scott Feldman #46 of the Chicago Cubs pitches in the bottom of the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on June 26, 2013 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

We all knew that the Orioles needed help in the starting pitching department, and Dan Duquette made a deal to help alleviate that problem.

From ESPN: The Baltimore Orioles bolstered their starting rotation Tuesday, acquiring Scott Feldman in a trade with the Chicago Cubs.

Baltimore also acquired backup catcher Steve Clevenger in the deal, which sent reliever Pedro Strop, starter Jake Arrieta and international bonus money to the Cubs.

Despite inconsistent starting pitching this season, the Orioles entered Tuesday with a 47-36 record. Baltimore's starting pitchers have posted a 4.79 ERA this season, the third-highest mark in the American League.

Feldman, 30, is 7-6 with a 3.46 ERA in 15 starts this season with the Cubs. Prior to signing with the Cubs this past offseason, the right-hander spent the previous eight years with the Texas Rangers and was a 17-game winner in 2009.

Feldman was scheduled to start for the Cubs against the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night.

Strop, 28, has struggled this season, going 0-3 with a 7.25 ERA in 29 relief appearances. The hard-throwing right-hander was Baltimore's primary setup man last season, when he posted a 2.44 ERA in 70 games.

Once considered a top prospect, the 27-year-old Arrieta went 1-2 with a 7.23 ERA in five starts this season. The right-hander owns a 5.46 ERA in 69 games — 63 starts — over parts of four seasons with Baltimore.

Strop and Arrieta perhaps just need a change of scenery to get their careers back on a track and the Orioles get a starter bolster a rotation that has been in need of a anchor. The problems that Strop and Arrieta have had in Baltimore are well-documented.

I'm not sure if I would consider Feldman an ace by any means; however, he strengthens the rotation and gives Baltimore a reliable starter.

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